A review of current concepts on the evolution of the human foot.
This paper reviews a number of recent advances in understanding the evolution of the human foot. The foot has gradually changed from the grasping and clinging organ of early Eocene and Miocene primate ancestors to the specialized weightbearing structure of modern man. Recent studies have indicated that postcranial remains commensurate with the requirements of bipedal locomotion may have been present as far back as 3 1/2 million years ago in the forerunners of modern man known as the australopithecines. Subsequent modifications appear to be refinements to increase the efficiency of weight transmission in habitual bipedalism.
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000882:Haplorhini / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D011323:Primates / Q000033:anatomy & histology